Stray Dogs become "Therapy Dogs"

Hello
For JATA's "Stray Dogs become therapy dogs" project, Thank you always for your warm support.

Due to the influence of the Pandemic covid 19, our current association can not carry out activities as before, but still now, we will review our activity policy in anticipation of after-pandemic and strive to create a better environment for dogs.
We are working hard everyday to maintain it.

By the way, in this report, I would like to tell you about the growth of Ace, a Kangal dog mix continuing from last time.
This is the final part, so it will be a summary of Ace's growth record.
Born and raised in Fuji no Sato, a dog ranch, he couldn't keep in harmony with each other and didn't know the outside world.
He has grown dramatically in the past year, and now he is a gentle dog.
He is able to live with his fellow dogs.

In my last report, I introduced three topics entitled Ace's Challenge.

To introduce each of them again, they are
(1) "Being able to get along with other dogs"

(2) "Get used to environmental changes"
and
(3) "Perform animal therapy activities"

In this report, we would like to report on the remarkable growth of Ace.
(1) "Being able to get along with other dogs"
which was the biggest issue among them.
Actually he currently lives with nearly 10 large dogs.
He lives with people 24 hours a day, it was a really big change year for him because he lived outdoors a year ago and wasn't always close to people.
As I wrote in my last report, he used to spend a lot of time wearing a metal muzzle and felt inconvenienced.
Now he lives very comfortable without muzzle.
He doesn't quarrel with other dogs, rather he has a very relaxed look and is able to relax.

Kangal dogs are Turkish sheep dogs with high athletic ability and also Kangal dog is a dog that must be trained properly.
Not only is it strong, but it can be a great companion dog is trained well properly, and Kangal dog is also trained as a police dog in Turkey.
If Ace, who inherits the blood of a Kangal dog, gets excited and quarrels with another dog without being properly trained, its dog could be seriously injured and even die in the worst case.
I think that the staff at that time isolated him simply because he was wary of the strength of Ace, and as a result Ace could not form socialization well and became more responsive to stimuli.
I also reported on the back ground of Ace in the previous report, so please take a look there as well.

There are many aspects that I feel that Ace was originally very kind and gentle.
Over the past year, he has received a lot of love from people and dogs in a completely different environment.
He has no angry look anymore and he has a very gentle face.
He is tolerant of other dogs approaching him while he is eating.
He doesn't react at all when other dogs run around him and sometimes hit an Ace.
For Ace, more time to feel closer to dogs and people is a major factor in the calmness.
Psychological safety for Ace is guaranteed by letting the other dogs meet the Ace one by one, keep a distance when it seems to react, and praise him if it goes well.

We are grateful to the dogs who accepted Ace, and above all, we were impressed that Ace himself was able to adapt and change even at the age of 7 years.
As humans grow older, their personalities and values become solidified, making it difficult for them to see things flexibly.
In particular, it is not easy to change the personality and perspectives cultivated through childhood experience.
Ace must have missed love and felt loneliness in his childhood, but now he is able to live a fulfilling life with a calm face.
I feel that Ace has taught me that I can grow no matter how old I am.

We humans are currently facing unprecedented challenges around the world.
Looking at the challenges and growth of these dogs, I realize that it is important to keep moving forward without giving up even in difficult times.
Ace's challenge may be a really small event compared to what happens in the world, but we humans also feel that repeating these small challenges will be an opportunity for humans and animals to harmonize at the global level.

Thank you for visiting Ace's growth record three times.
I would like to continue to promote activities that make the happiness of dogs our happiness, so we are so glad you support us.

Best regards.

NPO Japan Animal Therapy Association
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TAKASHI OKUMURA

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